User:Krisgabwoosh/Pitita Revolution
Political crisis in Bolivia in 2019 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Pitita Revolution (Spanish: Revolución de las pititas)[lower-alpha 1] was a twenty-one-day period of mass mobilizations and civil unrest in Bolivia that occurred between 21 October and 10 November 2019 in response to allegations of electoral fraud in that year's presidential elections. It culminated in the resignation of longtime president Evo Morales, instigating a constitutional crisis that resulted in the subsequent installation of a transitional government headed by Jeanine Áñez. The new government oversaw snap general elections that resulted in the return to power of Morales' party, the Movement for Socialism, just under a year later. The crisis highlighted deep divisions in Bolivian society, with opponents and supporters of Morales and his government regarding his fall from power as either a popular uprising or a coup d'état.
Pitita Revolution | |||
---|---|---|---|
Part of the Blue Tide | |||
Date | 21 October – 10 November 2019 (2019-10-21 – 2019-11-10) (3 weeks; 21 days) | ||
Caused by |
| ||
Goals |
| ||
Methods |
| ||
Resulted in | Opposition victory
| ||
Parties | |||
| |||
Lead figures | |||
Casualties | |||
Death(s) | 3 | ||
Injuries | 421 |
The crisis was preceded by irregularities in that year's presidential election, after the transmission of preliminary results was unexpectedly paused at 83.8 percent; the data indicated a historic second round between Morales and rival Carlos Mesa. After being paralyzed for more than twenty hours, the preliminary count resumed, with the new results indicating that Morales had exceeded the threshold to avoid a runoff despite only attaining a popular vote plurality. The sudden change in trend resulted in accusations of electoral fraud by Mesa, with observers from the Organization of American States also expressing concern. Ensuing protests led to mass mobilizations and the declaration of an indefinite general strike nationwide. As the crisis progressed, initial demands for a runoff vote lost traction, with civic leaders discarding the idea in favor of new elections and the president's resignation.
Protest measures largely revolved around mass mobilizations and the imposition of strike actions, with roadblocks being a prominent feature of opposition demonstrations. Though broadly peaceful, numerous incidents of violence—including arson, vandalism, and rioting—were also recorded. Instances of armed confrontations between rival parties also occurred, particularly involving the use of blunt objects by opposition protesters, the dispersion of tear gas by police, and the utilization of dynamite by pro-government groups—particularly mining cooperatives. Such actions led some academics to describe the unrest as a low-intensity civil war.
Morales denied fraud allegations, with his government inviting international observers to audit the electoral process. A preliminary report by the Organization of American States was published on 10 November, alleging serious irregularities and recommending fresh elections overseen by new electoral authorities. Following the publication of the initial report, Morales pledged to hold a new electoral process in accordance with the organization's findings. However, amid increasingly debilitating civil unrest, the president lost the support of the country's largest trade unions and his own appointed military high command, both of whom suggested he resign to prevent further violence. Morales' televised abdication, together with his vice president, instigated a series of mass resignations from ruling party officials, including the presidents of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, exhausting the constitutional line of succession.
At meetings sponsored by the Bolivian Episcopal Conference, opposition and government figures agreed to facilitate the succession of Second Vice President of the Senate Jeanine Áñez to the presidency. However, the Movement for Socialism later pulled its support for Áñez, boycotting the session in which she declared herself, first, president of the Senate and consequently president of the State. From asylum in Mexico, Morales called on supporters to reject Áñez's presidency, accusing the opposition of having orchestrated a coup d'état against him. Subsequent demonstrations led to blockades on inter-departmental highways, resulting in food and fuel shortages. The transitional government's heavy-handed response to armed protests resulted in massacres in Sacaba and Senkata, leading human rights groups to express concern over the use of force.